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Scott Attrill aka Vinylgroover
» Bass Junkie EP. 1
Reviewed by Dean Zone
/ Submitted 11-02-08 00:09
Label: Riot! Recordings
Format: Digital
Genre: Tech-Trance, Hard Trance, Hard Dance
One of the most successful producers in the business finally gets around to releasing an artist album; something considered the reserve of the elite only in the hard dance scene. Whilst many people might argue that Scott Attrill aka Vinylgroover (with or without long term production partner in crime the Red Hed) has been responsible for enough quality material to have had a few albums already (over 200 so I am informed), since he started producing at the tender age of 15. I am of the opinion that something is better late than never, which I think rings true with the first sampler EP taken from the forthcoming double album, Bass Junkie!
Vinylgroover - Bass Junkie
First up we have title track Bass Junkie, a quirky little number that genre hops almost as fast as the bass throbs in your face! Early old school stabs and a short vocal hook that sounds like it was stolen from the Big Brother theme tune don’t come anywhere near to preparing you for the craziness of the bass. Taking influences from electro but keeping a true hard feel is something that’s difficult to achieve. Here it is pretty much nailed. Ok so this is more or less just a succession of funky noises, stabs and other weird and wonderful bits and bobs, meaning I could quite easily be here all day trying to accurately describe/catergorise/pidgeon hole (delete as applicable).
Fans of the more uplifting side of hard dance (such as myself) might begrudge the lack of a proper riff here, and technically yes I will admit that all this tune really comprises of is an eclectic groove. But at the end of the day the key is in the title; Bass Junkie. It certainly does what it says on the tin and I wouldn’t advise anyone to bop their head in time to the bass. You WILL get a headache, trust me!
7/10
Vinylgroover - Feel Alive
If Bass Junkie didn’t satisfy my insatiable desire for hands in the air moments and, erm, Keith Flint style male vocals (performed by Daniel James), then Feel Alive certainly does! Reverbed kicks and an almost German sounding bass certainly make this stand out from Bass Junkie as a very different production (mustn’t forget to mention what sounds like reversed cymbals in there to, very alternate!).
The break here heralds previously mentioned Keith Flint style vocals (although admittedly not as aggressive as the Prodigy singers in nature and with a lot more effects over the top) along with searing pads. The strange combination actually works, with the two contrasting elements complimenting one another. The riff structure and sound reminds me a lot of CMR – Lost Vision on Joyride, but this is no bad thing as I have been caning that tune for ages. Full credit to Scott also for not just writing a hook and repeating it over and over, instead he’s gone for the full chorus and verse job. Ok so whilst lyrically at least Robbie Williams isn’t gong to come knocking anytime soon to ask him to write for him (which is most definitely a good thing for us hard dance fans!), but it certainly make this offering distinctive to pretty much everything I have heard in the last year or so.
8/10
Vinylgroover and the Red Hed - The Flashback
The last tune on this sampler is again more of a uplifting tech-trancer. This time mental stabs (not acid) fly about the place over techy percussion and a moving bass, before a Arp enters the fray, accompanied by piano at the end of each phrase. Shortly after is the breakdown, which is refreshingly short. The arms will barley have been in the air for ten seconds before what sounds like a flanged snare fill drags everything kicking and screaming out of the break and off at 100mph again! Much more of a traditional track compared to Feel Alive, and certainly one I can see getting a lot of plays.
Finishing in a shade under 6 minutes means that this has to work fast, and indeed it does, never dwelling on one part and never getting boring. Not quite as good as Feel Alive, but still rocking!
8/10
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The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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